When Love Becomes a Cage (Melanie)

"River, Melanie?"

Eliana was the first to snap out of it. She quickly grabbed Isla's phone and tossed it aside.

Then she yelled at the security guard, "What are you waiting for? Get them out of here! Now!"

I was just holding my head, tears streaming down my face, realizing my wig had indeed fallen off. Ever since I began wearing the wig, I had fretted about it slipping off. Now, having it forcibly removed and shown on live broadcast was a nightmare.

I couldn't bear to think about what the inte might say or think about me.

After everyone had left, Eliana frantically tried to fix the wig back on my head, but it just wouldn't sit right. She was on the verge of tears; I quickly took the wig from her.

"Let me do it."

Eliana looked at me, guilt written all over her face, "I'm so sorry, I should have stopped her earlier. It's all my fault, I was too focused on getting her to slip up."

Looking at my reflection in the glass of the booth, I quickly adjusted the wig.

"It's not your fault, you've helped me a lot already. Thank you, truly."

"If it weren't for you, I'd be the laughing stock by now, who knows what stories they'd be spinning."

I looked at her sincerely, but the guilt on her face only deepened.

"Melanie, is this some kind of new trend? You looked better with long hair, you know."

Suddenly, her eyes widened, and she guided me to sit down.

"Melanie, did you shave your head, or is it due to an illness?"Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

"Bald... You, you don't have cancer, do you?"

Seeing her eyes brimming with tears, I gently squeezed her hand, then slowly nodded.

She stood up, pacing back and forth in the booth.

“Right, I remember during our graduation year, you visited the oncology department. My grandmother was hospitalized, and I think I saw you there. Then you went off to Aurora, and something happened to your family during that time. You didn't run off with some rich guy; you were sick, weren't you?"

I didn't expect Eliana, who often seemed a bit clueless, to connect the dots so quickly. I lowered my head, silently confirming her suspicions.

Even Eliana, who disliked me, could piece it together, so what about Clyde? Could he have figured it out too? For some reason, this thought brought a flicker of hope to my heart.

After saying goodbye to Eliana and returning to the office, Clyde came straight to my office. He stared at my hair for a long moment before speaking in a hoarse voice, "Come to my office."

We stood at opposite ends of the elevator, silent.

Once back in his office, I saw Kayla with red-rimmed eyes.

"Clyde, you have to believe me, I didn't send Isla, I swear."

"It was Melanie who bullied her last time, she harbored resentment. She just wanted revenge, to stir up viewership, it had nothing to do with me."

Her tears made her look even more pitiful, as if she had even put on lipstick for effect, constantly leaning towards Clyde.

I sat emotionlessly on a chair.

Clyde suddenly turned cold, "Leave us."

"Clyde..."

"Out."

I could tell Kayla was fuming; Clyde usually doted on her, never speaking a harsh word. I didn't understand his change of attitude, and suddenly, I didn't want to.

Kayla left the office in a huff, and Clyde sat down, his gaze fixed on me. "Melanie, your hair..."

When I came to the office earlier, Lina had told me everyone knew about the live broadcast incident, and many had screenshots of my

bald head. Actually, seeing the wet

pictures, I felt a sense of relief. This way, I didn't have to worry about hiding my baldness anymore. And looking at those screenshots, I didn't look too bad.

I've been feeling better lately, eating well, and even gained some weight. I adjusted my wig, facing him with a neutral expression.

"You called me here just to ask about this? If there's nothing else, I'll be going."

"Melanie, what happened? You used to love your long hair."

"I don't understand, even if you wanted a short haircut, why go bald?"

He was getting frustrated, his words tumbling out incoherently. I smiled at him, not knowing what else to say.

Eliana had noticed something was

off, but he hadn't, was he still the

Clyde I knew? I suddenly lost weight, frequented hospitals, often fainted, and now, hair loss... Everything pointed to one answer, yet he was clueless. Knowing he no longer cared was strangely liberating.

“Clyde, remember? You pulled out my hair, made a bald spot too ugly to bear."

"I figured I'd just shave it all off. Wigs these days look pretty real, you didn't notice, did you?"

I spoke casually, without any hint of evasion.

He looked at me skeptically. "Really? But you used to..."

"You said 'use to'. I liked long hair before, now I don't, what's the issue?"

"People change. What I liked before, I don't like now. Isn't that normal?"

Clyde was left speechless by my insinuations.

I stood up to leave, and he finally spoke.

"Melanie, I won't let that reporter bother you again, I won't let anyone bully you."

"I will protect you, you don't have to worry."

I didn't look back, just waved my hand dismissively.

"No need."